First I would contact the author. Best wishes, David Booth

I would search in the supplement material if provided. If that doesn't work, you could try getting in touch with the authors.

You can email corresponding author requesting some supporting documents for your study

Did you try to contact the authors?

I cannot find the author's contact information. Is there a best way to search for this?

Initially, you should check whether an instrument of interest is copyrighted, i.e., you need permission to use the instrument. If it is copyrighted, you should contact the copyright holder, who often is the publisher, not the author. You might also get in touch with the author, whose contact details (e.g., email) are rendered in the instrument-containing publication, for copyright details. If the instrument is not copyrighted, you do not need to contact anyone for permission to utilize the instrument. Nevertheless, you could get in touch with the author for insights on administering and analyzing the instrument.

If the author’s details are not provided in the publication, you better skip the instrument and look for quality work. The following could be of interest.

APA Publishing Blog. (2016, December 21). How permissions work in PsycTESTS – APA publishing blog. https://blog.apapubs.org/2016/12/21/how-permissions-work-in-psyctests/

Columbia University Libraries. (n.d.). Permissions and licensing | Columbia University libraries. Copyright Advisory Services Columbia University Libraries. https://copyright.columbia.edu/basics/permissions-and-licensing.html

Good luck,

Try E-mailing the author.